Across the country, Anna fast fever catches on

The agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill continued in Mumbai for the third day with more people coming out in its support. At Azad Maidan on Thursday, several young faces were visible in the crowd, which was vociferous in its support for the Anna Hazare-led campaign.

On Thursday, India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers again took to the streets to spread awareness about the Bill. Pamphlets, IAC badges and white ribbons were distributed among pedestrians and commuters across south Mumbai. “We request people to wear the ribbon until the Bill is passed. IAC will distribute ribbons at all railway stations and religious places,” said Ruben Mascarenhas, IAC youth coordinator.

“We plead to citizens to be at their nearest railway station with candles at 7 pm on Friday. Similar agitations will be held every day,” said Mayank Gandhi, IAC Mumbai spokesperson.

HYDERABAD: A group of Telangana activists on Thursday launched an indefinite fast at India Park. The main opposition party, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as well as Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS), also extended their support to the cause of Anna Hazare.

The Telugu film industry also came out in a big way in support of the Jan Lokpal bill. Actor Mohan Babu announced he would take out a rally of thousands of students in the pilgrim town of Tirupati on Friday. “Let us support Anna Hazare in this national cause,” he said. Actors Kamaraju, Murali Mohan and Prakash Raj, and singer Anuj Gurwara also pledged support.

GUWAHATI Anna Hazare appears to have given poll-bound Assam a weapon to beat the Congress with. Addressing a rally near Guwahati on Wednesday, senior BJP leader LK Advani declared his support for the Gandhian social worker on fast-unto-death in New Delhi for an anti-graft bill. Barely 24 hours later, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi likened Hazare’s movement to Jayprakash Narayan’s stir against Emergency.

PATNA The state government came out in support of Hazare and the agitation. Chief minister Nitish Kumar said, “Strong laws and speedy judicial processes that ensure exemplary punishments to the corrupt are needed to tackle the menace. Anna Hazare has insistently striven to draw the attention of the UPA government towards notifying the comprehensive Lokpal Bill.”

Meanwhile, the indefinite fast by former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, facing a life term for murder, entered its third day today. Yadav continued his fast in the high-security Beur jail here, jail authorities said. Some prisoners too were on a fast-unto-death in support of the demand. A team of medical experts examined Pappu Yadav at the jail after a sudden fall in his blood pressure.